Top edge-opening rectangular bag and process of using same



Sept. 7, 1965 N. R. WILSON 3,204,856

TOP EDGE-OPENING RECTANGULAR BAG AND PROCESS OF USING SAME Filed Dec. 23, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 7

INVENTOR N. R. WILSON BY Q KQ FIG. 3, PRIOR ART A TTORNEYS N. R. WILSON Sept. 7, 1965 TOP EDGE-OPENING RECTANGULAR BAG AND PROCESS OF USING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Dec. 23, 1963 INVENTOR. N. R. WILSON N. R. WILSON Sept. 7, 1965 TOP EDGE-OPENING RECTANGULAR BAG AND PROCESS OF USING SAME Filed Dec. 23, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. N R WILSON A TTORNEYJ United States Patent 3,204,856 TOP EDGE-OPENING RECTANGULAR BAG AND PROCESS OF USING SAME Newton R. Wilson, Bartlesville, 0kia., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,794

8 Claims. (Cl. 229-53) This invention relates to a bag in the form of a hollow parallelepipedon having an edge opening extending along the vertex of one of its dihedral angles. In another aspect it relates to means to close said edge opening. In another aspect it relates to the process 'of using said bags to store particulate solid materials without waste space caused by the prismatical construction of the top of openend bags used in the prior art.

In the prior art, as shown in FIGURE 3, open-end bags when closed have a prismatical top which is necessary to the filling and sealing of the bag, which top does not fit closely against the other bags when the bags are piled in a compact mass. This results in difiiculties in handling on pallets with fork lift trucks, in stacking, and in storage in piles, as well as a waste of storage space because the prisms do not fit together as parallelepipedons do when piled in a compact mass. While attempts have been made to produce parallelepipedon bags with narrow valve openings, as in Miller 2,338,254 of January 4, 1944, such bags do not fill readily from conventional hopper-loading machines but require special loading spouts and blowing equipment which cannot provide as uniform weight filling of the bags as customary with automatic weighing and hopper-loading equipment available for loading open-end bags which operate perfectly with the novel top edge-opening bag of the present invention, filled from an elliptical spout as wide as the open top edge.

One object of the present invention is to provide an edge-opening, parallelepipedon bag capable of accurate weight loading with an ordinary hopper-loading device used with open-end bags without having a prismatical top when the bag is sealed.

Another object is to provide a'novel and useful bag for particulate material.

Another object is to provide a method of filling, sealing, and storing the bags of this invention without waste space.

Numerous objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art on reading the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view with parts in section of the filled, edge-opening, hollow, parallelepipedon bag of the present invention being sealed by sewing the walls of the opening together on a conventional sewing machine.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the filled and sewed bag of the present invention as it comes from the sewing operation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a filled and sewed open-end bag of the prior art showing how it has a prismatical top, which is inconvenient in handling and wastes space in storage.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a bag of the present invention before being told ed and the ends closed to form an edge-opening bag. The ordinary dotted lines show edges of the bag not visible in the position shown, while the dot and dash construction lines show where the bag may be folded in order to store the same compactly in a flattened condition before expanding the same into the position shown in FIG- URE 4, and also where the bag may be folded in order to close the ends as shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG- URE 4 with the ends in the process of being folded shut.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing a second species in which the top edge opening of the bag of the invention is closed by an overlapping, U-shaped, adhesive strip instead of being sewn together as in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a third species of the invention in which the top edge opening is merely sealed together with adhesive.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the fourth species, which is suitable when the bag is made of heat-weldable plastic material, such as polyethylene, and the top edge opening is welded closed by application of heat and pressure from the heating and pressure bars diagrammatically shown.

In FIGURE 1, a hollow, parallelepipedon bag having an edge opening of the present invention generally designated as 11 has been placed on a conveyor belt or plate 12 which is movable in a direction into and out of the figure in a groove 13 in a base plate 14. At the stage or position of conveyor 12 shown in FIGURE 2, the filled bag 11 is positioned under a conventional sewing machine generally designated as 17. By tilting the conveyor 12 so the top edges 24 and 26 of bag 11 are at the top of the bag, the bag can be completely filled by gravity. By having the widest edge of the bag open substantially throughout its entire extent and inserting an elongated or generally elliptical funnel or spout (not shown) of substantially the entire length of the slot, the bag can be completely filled by gravity dumping much quicker and more accurately than if the material had to be blown in through a narrow tube in a narrow valve opening as in Miller, cited above.

Bag 11 has an edge opening between the top 22 and side wall 23, which may be provided with integral overlapping tabs 24 and 26, respectively, coextensive with said opening. However, the invention may be practiced without tabs 24 and 26 by merely securing the abutting edges of walls 22 and 23 together coextensive with said upper edge opening. However, it is easier to operate with tabs 24 and 26 present.

As shown in FIGURE 1, tabs 24 and 26 pass between the base 28 and sewing machine head 29 of a conventional sewing machine 17 which sews tabs 24 and 26, or the abutting edges of 22 and 23 (not shown), together closing the top edge opening. As at least a dozen sewing machine companies have suitable conventional sewing machines like 17 on the market, it is not believed necessary to show any details of construction.

In FIGURE 2 is shown the finished product, con1prising the hollow, rectangular, parallelepipedon, edge-opening bag 11 filled with an accurately weighed load of particulate solid material, such as carbon black, with the tabs 24 and 26 of top 22 and side wall 23 sewed together with stitches of thread 31 closing and sealing the top edge opening between walls 22 and 23. As it is obvious that parallelepipedons can be stacked or piled on pallets handled in the conventional manner with fork lift trucks and can be piled in stocks and piles in storage without any waste space, it is not believed necessary to illustrate this point further by showing any such piles composed of bags 11. It is preferred that the edge-opening be coextensive with the edge.

However, it should be noted that when a conventional open-end bag of the prior art, generally designated as 32 in FIGURE 3 (the ordinary open-end bag furnished by grocery stores to customers for carrying groceries home), is sealed, it is necessary to fold the front wall 33 at 34 and the back wall at 36, so that the top portions 37 and 38 of these walls form a prismatical top above 34 and 36 which is conventionally closed by an overlapping U-shaped tape 39 sewn together with stitches 41 with the edges of walls 37 and 38 inside the walls of U-shaped strip 39. This prismatical top is not filled with particulate solids and makes the bag hard to handle to place in compact arrangement on pallets (not shown) or to pile the same without waste space (not shown) caused by the prismatical top.

FIGURE 4 shows in perspective view a rectangular cross-section, multi-l'ayer tube cut to form a top edgeopening bag generally designated as 11A embodying the present invention. This bag 11A has been so designated to distinguish from the bag generally designated as 11 in FIGURES 1, 2, 6 and 7 which may or may not be made of laminated paper like bag 11A, or may or may not be made of heat-weldable plastic like bag 11B of FIGURE 8, as explained further below.

The laminated bag 11A of FIGURE 4 has proved to be particularly suitable for packaging pelleted and/or flocculent carbon black and consists of a plurality of overlapping sheets of paper 42, 43 and 44 formed in the shape of a rectangular tube and secured together by adhesive at least along the overlapping seams. This rectangular tubing is cut in proper lengths and then has a rectangular piece cut out to form opening 46 and slots 47, 48, 49, 51 and 52 cut for folding purposes.

While this unit can be stored flat by merely folding it flat along edges 53 and 54 and flattening out the dihedral angles at edges 56 and 57 and forming the bag at a later time just before filling, it is generally preferable to have the top and bottom of the bag secured together by folding the lower portions 58, 59, 61 and 62 of sides 23, 63, 64 and 66, respectively, inward below construction dot and dash fold lines 67, 68, 69 and 71, respectively, allowed by longitudinal cuts 49, 51 and 52 with folds along dot and dash construction lines 72, 73, 74 and 76 as shown in FIGURE 5, and securing the overlapping sides together with adhesive to form a fiat bottom for the bag. In a similar manner cut-out rectangle 46 and slots 47 and 48 provide means for folding the top of the bag together along fold lines 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 86, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 5, or the overlapping portions being secured together by adhesive except for flaps 24 and 26, which are not attached until after the bag is filled and sealed, as will be explained below. In this operation the vertical rear flap 87 is brought down last to seal over the top of the bag.

When the folding movements commenced in FIGURE are completed, the bag is then in the form of a hollow parallelepipedon having an open top-edge opening coextensive with the vertex of the corresponding dihedral angle, as shown by bag 11 in FIGURES 1, 2, 6 and 7. If the completed bag is not to be used before filling immediately or at that point, it may be folded flat in any suitable manner for storage or shipment, such as by pressing in the sides and folding along lines 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106 and 107 as indicated.

While it is preferred to set the tabs 24 and 26 of the bag shut down with sewing machine 17 as shown in FIGURE 1, it is obvious that the invention may be practiced in other ways to form other species. For example, in FIGURE 6, tabs 24 and 26 may be secured together by a layer of adhesive 108, coated U-cross section tape 109 secured across the opening. If tabs 24 and 26 are made in abbreviated form or eliminated, tape 109 may extend into contact with walls 22 and 23 sealing across the top edge opening, although it is. preferred to have tabs 24 and 26 of appreciable extent.

In FIGURE 7, tabs 24 and 26 are secured together by an adhesive 111 placed therebetween after the bag is filled.

It should be understood that the bag 11 of FIGURES l, 2, 6 and 7 may be a single thickness of paper, or be made of a plurality of paper laminations as bag 11A of FIGURES 3 and 4, or bag 11 may be made of a single or plurality of laminated sheets of a suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, vinylidene chloride, or any other plastic compound suitable for making bags, and it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to select a suitable adhesive 108 or 111 which is compatible and effective with the particular material of which the bag is made, such as starch, casein glue, rubber cement, vinyl adhesive, or the like.

FIGURE 8 shows a modification in which flaps 24 and 26 of bag 11B, or the edges of top 22 and sides 33 of bag 11B, are secured together by Welding the same between pressure bar 112 and heater bar 113 heated by any suitable means, such as battery 114, switch 116 and circuit wires 117 and 118, and obviously to be so welded the material of bag 11B should be susceptible of heat welding, such materials being known to those skilled in the art and comprising polyethylene, polystyrene, vinylidene chloride, and other plastic compounds.

While specific examples have been given for illustrative purposes, it is believed the invention is not limited thereto.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A- bag having a wall in the form of a completely closed, hollow, rectangular parallelepipedon with the exception of one opening extending directly through said wall only along the entire extent of the vertex of one of the dihedral angles of said parallelepipedon, the two edges of said one bag wall forming said dihedral angle each having an extension across said opening in contact with the other extension, and means comprising said extensions adapted to close said opening.

2. A bag having a wall in the form of a generally closed, hollow parallelepipedon with one opening extending directly through said wall only along susbtantially the entire extent of the vertex of one of the dihedral angles of said parallelepipedon, the two edges of said bag wall forming said dihedral angle each having an extension across said opening in contact with the other extension, and means comprising said extensions adapted to close said opening.

3. The bag of claim 2 in which the means adapted to close said opening comprises a strip of material secured to the opposite walls of said extensions across the opening by sewing a linear element through said material and said extensions.

4. The bag of claim 2 in which the means adapted to close said opening comprises means for securing said extensions together.

5. The bag of claim 2 in which the means adapted to close said opening comprises a linear element sewn through the opposite walls of said extensions.

6. The bag of claim 2 in which the means adapted to close said opening comprises a strip of adhesive material secured to the opposite walls of said extensions across the opening.

7. The bag of claim 2 in which the means adapted to close said opening comprises an autogenous weld between the adjacent walls of said extensions.

8. The bag of claim 2 in which the means adapted to close said opening comprises an adhesive material on at least one of the adjacent walls of said extensions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,000,928 5/35 Cundall et al. 1 229-62 2,071,745 2/37 Higginbottom 22962 2,176,996 10/39 Leonard et al. 22962 2,246,596 6/41 Moore 22962 2,267,320 12/41 Berch 5322 2,292,295 8/42 Royal 53--22 2,305,631 12/42 Moore 22966 2,338,254 1/44 Miller 22962.5 3,065,899 11/ 62 Means et a1. 22962.5

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No: 204,856 September 7, 1965 Newton Rs Wilson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 4, line 28, strike out "one'h Signed and sealed this 19th day of April 1966! (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer 

1. A BAG HAVING A WALL IN THE FORM OF A COMPLETELY CLOSED, HOLLOW, RECTANGULAR PARALLELEPIPEDON WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE OPENING EXTENDING DIRECTLY THROUGH SAID WALL ONLY ALONG THE ENTIRE EXTENT OF THE VERTEX OF ONE OF THE DIHEDRAL ANGLES OF SAID PARALLELEPIPDEON, THE TWO EDGES OF SAID ONE BAG WALL FORMING SAID DIHEDRAL ANGLE EACH HAVING AN EXTENSION ACROSS SAID OPENING IN CONTACT WITH THE OTHER EXTENSION, AND MEANS COMPRISING SAID EXTENSIONS ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID OPENING. 